The detained explosives dealer is believed to be responsible for
coordinating
the purchase and transfer of explosives and other bomb-making equipment
for Taliban insurgents throughout the region, officials said.

Prior to his arrest, the suspect had acquired several components for building homemade bombs, officials said.

The
Afghan special operations unit also detained three other suspected
insurgents and seized more than 40 pounds of illegal narcotics as a
result of this operation.

In another Afghanistan operation today,
a combined force arrested a suspected Taliban IED expert, detained
several other suspects and seized military uniforms, firearms and
explosives in the Khugyani district of Nangarhar province. The arrested
IED expert is believed to be a leading figure in the movement and
provision of explosives for attacks against coalition and Afghan
security forces throughout eastern Nangarhar province.

Also
today, Afghan and coalition forces confirmed the death of Shabeer, a
Haqqani network leader, following a Sept. 2 precision airstrike in the
Pul-e Alam district of Logar province. Shabeer was believed to have been
coordinating a high-profile attack using vehicle-borne bombs and other
weapons. A post-strike assessment determined no civilian property was
damaged and no civilians were harmed.

In operations yesterday:

--
A combined force detained several suspects and seized Afghan army
uniforms, an assault rifle and IED components during a search for a
Haqqani leader in the Sayyid Karam district of Paktia province.

--
A combined force detained several suspects and seized a firearm during a
search for a Taliban leader in the Ghazni district of Ghazni province.

Also
on Sept. 2, Afghan and coalition forces confirmed the Aug. 30 arrest of
a Taliban insurgent in the Hisarak district of Nangarhar province. The
insurgent is accused of using his status as a member of the Afghan
National Police to conduct a May attack that killed two coalition
service members. Prior to his capture, officials said, he was attempting
to join the Afghan army.

In Sept. 1 operations:

-- A
combined force killed an insurgent, detained numerous suspects and
destroyed an explosives and weapons cache during a search for a Haqqani
leader in the Sayyid Karam district of Paktia province.

-- In the
Wali Muhammad Shahid Khugyani district of Ghazni province, a combined
force detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban leader.

--
A combined force detained numerous suspects during a search for a
Taliban bomb maker in the Washer district of Helmand province.